My bling bling nails!

My own blue glitter manicure to mark a special occasion!

Review: Talika Anti-Acne Mask & a homemade scrub

Hello folks! I just had an awesome bath using a Honey, Milk & Olive Oil Sugar scrub! It left my skin really smooth and tender! This is a nourishing and moisturizing scrub.

Honey, Milk & Olive Oil Sugar scrub

If you're interested to make the scrub, all you need is..

Ingredients:
10 tbsp sugar (fine grains)
3 tbsp honey (organic is preferred)
1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
4 tbsp milk

How to?
1. Put 7 tbsp of sugar into a bowl
2. Add honey to the bowl, mix well.
3. Add 3 tbsp milk to the bowl, stir.
4. Add olive oil and stir. Slowly add the remaining sugar little by little.
5. Depending on the honey you use, the last tbsp of sugar may or may not be needed.

You should get a sand like consistency before you enjoy your bath!
psss: you can use this both on your face and body, just remember to be gentle with your face!

Review: Talika Renaissance Mask - Anti Acne

I have also tried a new mask from Talika recently. It is also labelled as the second skin. The particular one I tried was an Anti-acne mask.  This mask aims to reduce imperfections (pimples, blackspots and redness) as well as 'closes' pores. It is made of a nano-natural fiber (biocelulose). I didn't buy this mask, my mom passed it to me after seeing my recent breakout. Apparently this mask was released in 2010.

This came in handy as I've been experiencing bad breakouts recently. I left it on my face for approximately 15-20 mins, massaged in the rest of the formula.  The result was lovely! I do see my red acnes fading off! After 2 uses, I'm glad to say that my acne did seem to heal faster than normal! The red spots which were faded (just slight pinkish) was also easier to manage.

There is no perculiar or dishasteful smell associated with this mask. The mask sheet was gel-like unlike those you'd get from korean brands and it came with an extra layer of protection when applying. I believe that helps to retain moisture better, which was really thoughful of the Talika designers.

Unfortunately I did not manage to locate any Singapore stores selling this mask nor find it on their webpage. So I'm sorry ladies, the only website I managed to locate selling this mask is here (sweetcare). However, I must disclaim that I have never purchased from the website and I'm not sure how reliable or unreliable it might be.

My verdict: ❤❤❤❤❤/ ❤❤❤❤❤
I generally liked the product. However due to the absence of price, I'm not sure if I'll purchase it again. Should it be very costly, then I will definitely not repurchase this product. However if each mask sheet falls below S$15, I may consider using it if I have breakouts again!

Short answer? Yes I will repurchase if the price is reasonable to help my occasional breakouts!

Review: Biore Makeup Remover for Eye & Lip

Hello ladies!

I've been using a couple of different eye make-up removers, ranging from Lancome's  Bi-Facil and L'oreal's Gentle Lip & Eye makeup remover before embarking on my journey with Biore's Pink formula. 

L'oreal's and Lancome's remover were rather similar in my opinion, with the Lancome's formula being a tad stronger than L'oreal's. However both did leave some of my eye makeup smudging after cleansing. 

Still, Lancome's formula was a tad too expensive. So I switched. 

So back to Biore's. I'm only 1/3 through the bottle and I can't wait for it to finish. I won't do my table review for this product as it doesn't quite fit. I'm just going to outline some key pointers.

What I like about the product:

• almost odourless and pleasant
• simple packaging and easy to use

What I dislike about the product

• it doesn't fully remove my waterproof makeups and is not as strong as the L'oreal's formula. It takes quite a few wipes on a few different cotton pads before my makeup is full removed. This will dehydrate the eys and perhaps even cause fine lines. A big no-no. 
• I hate the nozzle as it causes uneven squirts onto my cotton pad, which sometimes causes too much of the formula to be squirted on the cotton pad and hence getting into my eye
• I personally find it too oily but wouldn't mind if the oil works. I don't think the oil is doing its job for this product.

I will not repurchase this product. I will just diligently finish my 2/3s. 

I'm looking forward to try the new Talika gentle eye cleanser for sensitive eyes (retailing S$52 in Singapore) - see the other post.  

Talika Lipocils New Mascara

New products to try from Talika!

• The Eyelash conditioning cream (the small box) - RRP Singapore - S$53
• Duo Mascara - one side for natural eyelash growth and the other a black mascara! - RRP (Singapore) - S$69
• Gentle Eye Cleanser for Hypersensitive Eyes - RRP (Singapore S$52)

I believe that the duo mascara is their new item. They recommend applying Lipocils then the Black mascara above it. Its meant to be water-resistant which should work fine in hot and humid countries unless you are going diving or swimming with mascara!
However, it might be awhile before i get started on this mascara as I just bought the DiorShow mascara not too long back and its still unopened!! Please be patient as I try out these products! 

Floral Nails

My pretty floral inspired nails! 

Review: Elizabeth Arden Prevage Hydrating Fluid & Biotherm Aquasource

To be very honest, I've found it really hard to evaluate skincare. I'm not sure if you feel the same? In my opinion, the impact is generally milder and the side effects take longer to show.

This review will be split into three review portions, first my old love - Biotherm Aquasource Moisturizer followed by my new love - Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Fluid and lastly a comparison against each other. Its going to be a long post, be prepared!

1. Biotherm Aquasource Non-stop Moisturizer (for combination skin) - the green gel

My background with moisturizers are quite straightforward. From as far as I could recall, I've been using Biotherm's Aquasource since its old formula (lighter and less fragrant) and old packaging. I think it has been approximately 10 years since! (woah) Unfortunately, no biotherm has not rewarded me very much for being such a loyal fan, in both monetary/gift benefits and skin benefits, especially after I've started a full make-up regime on a day to day basis. As such I've decided to move away from Biotherm Aquasource.

So let's get digging into the review!

Ingredients

Aqua, Alcohol Denat, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerine, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Gluconate, Serine, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Citrulline, Cholestrol, Liminene, Fructose, Glucose, Tocopherol, Vitreoscilla Ferment Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Urea, Menthoxypropanediol, Zinc Gluconate, Linalool, Ceramide 3, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Citral, Dextrin, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Benzyl Alcohol, Copper Gluconate, Hexyl Nicotinate, Sucrose, Glutamic Acid, Manganese Gluconate, CI 42090, CI 19140, Aspartic Acid, Alanine

To be fair, let me highlight that this moisturizer is not a bad moisturizer. I love the gel-like formula which leaves my skin a refreshed and supple! It has a fresh and a cooling hydrating texture just like spa water! Furthermore, it is light, gentle to sensitive skin (mineral oil and paraben free) and easy to apply - does not leave a greasy oily feel, perfect for summer weather. But on the long run, it does not work miraculously, definitely not for dry skin types, and more importantly, it is insufficient for your skin if you are like me, spending 5 days a week in air conditioned spaces. Oh yes, and nah, put this aside if its winter.

Summary: I will not repurchase this unless I'm dying for a quick spa pampering perk-me-up as it does not do much for my facial skin. Besides, the increasingly hefty price tag for this product with such strong alcohol denat content makes me ponder twice before purchasing for that quick perk.

2. Elizabeth Arden Prevage Hydrating Fluid (S$221)
{see EA's official page}

I've been using this new product launched by Elizabeth Arden (EA) in March 2012 (Singapore). It was launched together with Prevage triple defense SPF 50+++. Anyway given my experience with Biotherm Aquasource as described above, I decided to embark on a new journey with this moisturizer which was meant to be light weight for oily to combination skin & suitable for sensitive skin as well. It was also meant to be suitable for folks living in a humid climate (yay, that's Singapore) EA also mentioned that this can be doubled up as a primer!

Prevage was range developed by EA to combate skin aging signs which are caused by environmental factors like air pollution and our exposure to the harmful sun rays (UVA, UVB and Infrared-A). These will eventually lead to fine lines, skin dryness and pigmentation visibility on our skin.

This moisturizer is orange in colour and easily absorbed into the skin, leaving a silky finish. It contains two antioxidants (Idebenone and Thiotaine), Soy protein, glycerin and peptide complex to help combat these environment stress, repair and hydrate the skin.

Unfortunately this product comes with a hefty price tag (S$221) at all EA counters since March 2012. The bottle is not opaque and hence I'm not sure how long it will last. At the moment, I use 1.5 - 2 pumps per use in order for full face coverage. Just after 2 - 3 weeks of using this moisturizer, I've seen my facial skin improving - smoother, more radiant and more hydrated! However, I'm concerned about the trade off between the cost and its benefits.


Elizabeth Arden's Prevage Hydrating Fluid vs Biotherm Non-stop Aquasource Moisturizer - who wins?

Well its pretty obvious that EA's product won Biotherm's handsdown given the scoring. However, it is note worthy to point out that Biotherm's product application was smoother and it gave me a more relaxed feeling. Unfortunately that does not live up to its product function as a moisturizer. I also just started on EA's Ceramide Intense Moisture & Renewal Regeneration Eye Cream as I'm done with Bobbi Brown's Extra Eye Repair Cream. More of that at a later date!

By the way, I've also tried Biotherm Skin.Ergetic Concentrate from 1 Jan 2012 to date. I've decided to boycott that product as it was simply a waste of money. [Afternote: I've reviewed the product in September, see here]

Thanks for your continual support for my page! hugs! Till the next post!

Honey Yogurt Oat Mask

Hello! I'm back with a homemade recipe mask today!

Honey Yogurt (Yoghurt) Oat Mask 

- a moisturizing mask for dry skin
Remember to do a skin patch before applying to your face! You won't want to end up with an irritated face!

Ingredients:

• - 2 tablespoons plain yogurt (the fattier the better)
• The most important part of yogurt mask is to use regular yogurt that has fat, do not use non-fat yogurt as a mask, the result will not be noticeable or the mask won’t work at all. 



Honey Yogurt Mask - Paste Like

• If you are afraid of drippy masks, use a cream yogurt.
• - 1 tablespoon honey
• - 1-2 tablespoons cooked & cooled oatmeal

How to?

Mix everything together until it forms a smooth paste. Spread over the face and leave on for 15-30 minutes. Wash off with a warm water/washcloth.

How long can it be kept?

Normally I'll keep it in a tub for a maximum of 1-2 weeks depending on the condition of the mask by then. Once you spot green dots on the surface, discard the mask. If you think it looks out, smell it - anything remotely slightly sour is terrible - throw!

Variations:

• Use only Fatty Yogurt: Perfect if you just got off a flight/overseas
• Good Scrub: Replace Oats with 2tbsp of finely ground almonds & 1/2 tsp of lemon juice 
• Combat Acne: Replace Oats with 5 uncoated aspirins (dissolved in water)
• Face Brightener: Replace Oats and honey (optional) with 1-2 drops of lemon juice (citric acid helps, but not too much otherwise it might irritate your face)

You should get a smooth paste. Enjoy!